Igniting device for gas-burners.



B. MORGAN.

ITING DEVICE FOR GAS BURNEHS.

APPLIGATIOE TILED 2453.7, 1914.

IGN

Patented Jan. 5.

I Liven mm? f ESERIEABTB KQRGAN, OF NEXVPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

IGNIEIHG DEVICE FOR GAS-BURNERS Specification of Letters Patent.

latented J an. 5, 33.915.

Application filed March 7, 1914.. Serial No. 823.065.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that l, Bunxano ll'IORGAN, a subject of the King of Great Britaimand a resident of h'ewport. in the county of Newport and State of lthode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in igniting Devices for Gas-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

3 y invention relates to igniting devices designed for use with gaseous fuel burners, and particularly to igniting devices of the type in which aspark or stream of sparks is produced by the action of an abrasive member moving in contact with a spark producing element or member made of a pyrophoric substance such, for example. as of an alloy containing a metal or metals of the cerium group and a sub-oxid of said metal or metals, or an alloy of cerium and iron, and in which igniting device the spark or sparks are projected into the stream of gas or combustible miziture to be ignited: such im ing devices being commonly known and referred to by those skilled in the art to which my invention relates as frictional or pyrophoric igniters.

The objects of my invention are to provide a manually operable igniting device of the type above referred to which may be readily attached to an ordinary form of gaseous fuel burner, such. for example, as a lighting burner, and used to ignite the gas or combustible mixture issuing therefrom; to provide an igniting device which may be readily and cheaply produced by approved manufacturing processes, and one which will be simple in construction, so that it will be unlikely to get out of order in use or fail to operate, yet which will be effective for the purpose fGT-Wl'ilCll it is provided; and to provide such other and" further improvements in and relating to igniting devices as are hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the drawing acconapanyinc, and. forming a part of this application and in Which the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated; altthoufzh it will be understood that my invention includes also such variations and modifications of the particular form of igniting device illustrated and described as Will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the drawing; Figure 1 is aview illusirating my improved igniting device in perspegtiae and attached to a common form lamp.

of lighting burner; Fig. 2 is a view showing a section of my device upon a plane indicated by the line 22, Fig. 3, looking toward the left; Fig. 3 is a view showing my device apart from the burner and as seen from a prsiticn to the left of Fig. 2; Fig. l is a view showing a. section taken upon a. transverse plane indicated by the line H, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view showing the frame oi my device flattened out, so as to illustrate how the same is produced from a suitable blank. Fig. 6 is a view. upon a larger scale and principally in section, upon a transverse plane indicated by the line 6-6, Fig 2; and, Fig. 7 is a view drawn to the same scale as Fig. 6 and showing certain elements of my device.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 7 designates a suitable frame designed to be secured to a gaseous fuel burner 8, as shown in Fig. 1, the burner shown in that figure being a common form of burner designed to burn acetylene gas and to be used in an automobile headlight or similar This frame serves as a support for the various parts hereinafter specifically referred to and which parts, together with the frame, form my improved igniting device. The frame is made from blank cut from a thin sheet metal plate by performing suitable bending, shaping, and similar operations thereupon as by means of suitable dies. to thereby cause the blank to assume the form of the finished frame, the form of the blank being obviously such that the frame may be produced therefrom in the manner herein referred to. The frame is shown flattened out in Fig. 5 and, although the blank may depart somewhat from the outline appearing in this figure, said blank will be of approximately the form illustrated in said figure.

The frame 7 is provided with'two oppositely located arms 9 having holes 10 adja cent their free ends through which a bolt or screw 11 extends and by means of which the ends of the arms may be drawn together and the device as a whole clamped in place upon the burner 8, as shown in Fig. 1 and as will be understood. Said frame is also provided with two oppositely located ears 12 which serve to support the abrasive member of my device, and with two lugs 13 adapted to fit over opposite edges of a plate or cover 14 to thereby retain the same in place; the arms, emrm'smll lugs being formed by bending corresponding portions of the blank from which the frame is madeto cause said elements to assume their proper positions in the finished frame, as hereinbefore explai'ned.

able dies, as above explained, the open side of said recess being closed by-the plate or cover'l which extends across the recess and which cover in turn is held in place by the overlying lugs 13, whereby a chamber is formed within which a spark producing member or element 16 is located, the same be ing resiliently supported u on and pressed outward by'a spring 17 t e lower end of which abuts a must the end wall 18 at the lower end of the recess 15, as best shown in Fi 2. v V

dhe ears 12 serve as supports for the ends of a transverse pin 19 at the middle ortion of which a swinging-arm 20 is loose supported and which arm is held in its ower- .most position illustrated (or suddenly returned to that position after having been swung upward about the pin'as a center) by means of a suitable spring member shown ascomprising two coil sprin s 21, one,

surrounding the pin 19 and locate upon either side of the arm 20; and which springs are connected with one another through a central loop 22 which bears upon the upper side of the arm 20, as best shown in Fig. 2, the springs and loop being formed from a single piece of wire the free ends 23 pi which bear against a cross-bar 24 of the rame.

The arm 20 serves as a support and carrier for an abrasive member 25, the same being curved and preferably-inthe form of a segment of a ring the extent of which is such that when the abrasive member is in position it is held in place by the engagement of the free ends 26 thereof with the enlarged head 27 of the arm 20, the periphery of Whichhead is curved to correspond with the inner surface of the abrasive member as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and could leave the head only by a lateral or sidewise movement because of the fact that the free ends of the abrasive member are a less distance apart than the diameter of the head. Such a movement, however, cannot occur.in practice because of the fact that there is no force tending to move the abrasive member sidewise, and because of the fact that such movement would be arrested by the side edges of an opening 28 provided in the frame, see Fig. 5, and into which the abrasive member extends, and because of the further fact that the inner coils of the springs 21 naturally overlie and are located close to the sides of the seat 27 and abrasive 2 is accom lished suddenly and with masses member-as best shown in Fig. 3. The periphery of the abrasive member is serrated as shown, and moves in contact with the spark producing element 16 as the arm 20 is moved upward manually and returned'by the action of the springs 21; whereby particics of the pyrophoric substance of which the spark producing member is made are torn therefrom and projected into the air, whereupon the particles take fire and produce sparks in accordance with the well known phenomena associated with such substances. In view of the premises it will be appreciated that I have produced an igniting device in which the movement of the abrasive member which results in the production of a spark or series of sparks, (the movement in the direction indicated bv the arrow Fig.

reet rapidity because of the direct action'o? the springs 21 upon the arm 20, which springs act to return the arm to its initial position after it has been. swung upward by the hand, and then released.

The abrupt and rapid action of the abrasive member upon the sparkproducing elements results in a hotter and larger (or fatter as expressed by persons having to do with problems involving the ignition of a gas) spark than would be the case if the movement of the abrasive member took place less rapidly, as because of the retarding influence of mechanism intermedia'tethe standing, to the fact that a greater number of particles of the pyrophoric substance which forms the spark producing member are torn therefrom, and which partlcles're- -main closer together as they are thrown into the air, than would be the case if the movement of the abrasive member took place less rapidly.., The resulting spark or sparks he also thrown farther, and better into the stream of combustible mixture to be ignited, than would be'the case if the movement of 116 the abrasive rnember occurred less abruptly. Again, in nay-improved igniting device the abrasive member is of such a form that it cannot become accidentally disengaged from the member or arm by which it is supported, 120 and. finally, the frame of my device is of such a form and is so designed with reference to the end in view that it may be produced at a minimum of cost, and by approved and simple processes of manufac- 1:5 ture.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An integral frame for an ignitingde- 13o mosses two oppositely a burner, between which an abrasive member may be supported, :2 recess loco'ied between said arms and adapted to contain a sperl; produci rent, and lugs located adjscen ud adopted to moors-ed between e separate arm and partaking .ients thereof. and

producing elenpon Snitl arm to .l position after bed coninris ween said arms and ears and adopt producing element; cing element n1 said recess; an oscillating we member supported said cars and adapted to more in contact "with snidlspsrk producing element: and a spring operatively connected with said alrcsire member and adopted to return the some to its initial posicion of it has been moved therefrom.

An igniting device of the class dc scribed comprising a frame adopted to be secured to a burner and which frame is provided wish a recess; a cover secured to said frame and extending longitudinally of and across said recess; a resiliently supported snarl-1 producing element located Within saris recess; two oppositely located ears car ried by frame; a swinging arm sup ported between said ears; an abrasive member carried by so arm and adapted to in contact "with snarl; predect; and spring nosing noon s c so.

5 E111 ignicing device of the described comprising 2, frame adapted to be secured to a burner and which frame is provided with reces a cover extending across said recess; lugs upon said frame and adapted to engage said cover to hold in pie e: a resiliently supported spark producing element located within said recess: a pirctnlly supported oscillating abrasive member supported from said frame and. adopted to more in contaci with said spark producing element; and a spring acting upon said abrasive member to return the some to its initial position after it has been moved therefrom;

7. An igniting device of the class described comprising s frame adapted to secured to burner which frame is provided with a recess; a cover secured to said frame and extending longitudinally of and acro s said recess; a sgring pressed snarl; producing element loc ated Within said recess; two oppositely located ears carried by said frame; a transverse pin extending between said cars; a swinging arm supported upon said pin; an abrasive member carried by said arm and adapted i0 move in contact with said spark producing element: and two coil springs each surrounding said pin and located one upon each side of said arm, and which springs are opcratively connect 4 with said arm to return the some so its inirial position after it has been moved therefrom.

8. In an igniting device of the class described; a suitable frame adapted to be supported from a burner; av spark producing clement carried by" said frame; a pivotally supported swinging arm supported from said "frame and having an enlarged head: a curved abrasive member the free ends of which engage. said enlarged heed to thereby hold said abrasive member in place, and which abrasive member moves in contact with said spark producing member; and a spring acting upon said arm to return the some to its initial position after is has been moved therefrom.

9. in an igniting device of the class described; a suitable frame adapted to be supported from a burner; a spark producing clement carried by said frame, a pivotelly supported swinging arm supported from said frame and having an enlarged head; a

. abrasive member in the form or" n se 'ment formed from o sheemhetei blank and having two arms iwherebyii m y be secured to e burner, two oppositelyigcated ears, and a recess intermecimte sold-arms and ears and edapteii eo contain. a spark producing elemeet; a resilienily supported spark producing ole em. loo-awed Within said recess; means erreteining said element in place in said recess; an oscillating abrasive memher supported between said ears and adapted. to move in contact with said spark pro dosing element; and a. spring adapted to reeum said abrasive member to its initial position after it has been moved therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed. my 15 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNARD MORGAN.

Ni'imesses C. W. LAWTON,. A. E. SNYDER. 

